Canberra authors to read this year (as recommended by you!)
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If your New Year’s resolution was to read more books, there is no better place to start than with a Canberra author.
And while we do our best to keep our thumb on the pulse of talent that flows throughout our region, sometimes these literary delights still manage to slip between the pages. Thankfully, our audience is a fiercely well-read army that picks up the stupendous authors and their novels we might have missed along the way.
Here’s what you recommend—plus a few suggestions from us, because quite frankly, we couldn’t resist. Go forth, or should I say, go Wilde!
Nicole Godwin: We Are Australians
While Nicole Godwin is known for award-winning children’s books, her latest, We are Australians offers up a moving change of pace. Co-written with Wiradjuri man Duncan Smith OAM, Nicole brings to life a tender and visually moving journey through First Nations history. A powerful call to action that may need to be read twice—once for the words and again for the stunning artwork.
Jack Heath: Headcase
It’s always a joy to step inside the wildly creative world of Jack Heath, and his latest’s is—of course—just as entertaining as the rest. Following the story of a Chinese astronaut found dead in a NASA training environment in Houston, Texas, Jack creates a world that somehow manages to keep us on our toes while making laughing out loud simultaneously. This is the kind of book you could read in one anxious sitting.
Gina Newton: Hold On! Saving the Spotted Handfish
This is a beautifully written children’s novel that unpacks climate change and the vulnerability of our oceans with raw and unflinching originality. Lilting along like a lullaby, its powerful messaging is easily absorbed.
Emma Grey: The Last Love Note
A moving portrait of love, loss and the messy emotions that live in between. And while Emma captures heart-wrenching scenes, the intimate prose is relatable, revealing and simply human. Yes, you will need tissues on hand—as well as a cuppa!
Dr. Chloe Lim: Undefeated: 90 migrant women, 118 journeys
Teeming with wisdom and intelligence, this novel guides us through the diverse journeys of 90 migrant women who find humour and grace amidst the complexities that often live within their stories.
Dr Chloe Lim finds her voice within the 90, taking us into her world with bare-boned honesty and rigour throughout. Truly an incredible feat of literary construction.
Andrew Leigh: Randomistas
A gripping read that puts profound questions at its core. Andrew finds a way of beautifully articulating the complicated, shining the spotlight on radical researchers who move beyond the boundaries that live within medicine, politics, economics, and law enforcement. It’s lively, intelligent reading that will make you feel that little bit smarter going into the new year.
Peter Papathanasiou: The Stoning
If you love nothing better than cosying up with a murder mystery, then Peter’s The Stoning is a no-brainer. With unfathomable pulses on every page, this thrilling novel quickly sucks you into the darkness that lives within this small town—with poignant messaging along the way.
